I.of the person or thing purified, to make pure or clean, cleanse, clean, purge, καθήραντες χρόα ὕδατι Od.:— to purge, clear a land of monsters and robbers, Soph.
2.in religious sense, to cleanse, purify, [δέπας] ἐκάθηρε θεείωι purified it by fumigating with sulphur, Il.; καθ. τινὰ φόνου to purify him from blood, Hdt.; Δῆλον κ. id=Hdt.:—Mid. to purify oneself, get purified, id=Hdt.; οἱ φιλοσοφίαι καθηράμενοι Plat.:—so Pass., κεκαθαρμένος id=Hdt.
3.to prune a tree, i. e. clear it of superfluous wood, NTest.
4.metaph., = μαστιγόω, like our vulgar phrase "to rub down, " Theocr.